Lunch Money, a locally owned gift shop and boutique in Chandler, will open its doors for the first time on Feb. 1, 2022. The public is invited to celebrate the occasion by browsing the wide range of hand-selected inventory and experiencing the quirky, colorful aesthetic of the store firsthand. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m. Lunch Money is located in the Watermark Plaza, on Gilbert Road between Germann and Queen Creek.

The grand opening includes food and refreshments, giveaways with every purchase,  and a raffle to win special prizes. Local owner, Erin Dragoo, will be cutting the ribbon to start off the event and giving a speech to commemorate her new business.

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“Retail therapy is real. Shopping distracts us from anxiety. It releases dopamine without even buying something; just the act of being in a store and seeing everything, dreaming up possibilities, being part of the experience,” said Dragoo. “And there are only a few boutiques here in Chandler. A lot of people have to go to the mall to get their retail therapy — that’s no fun. I want to provide a fun, unique shopping experience for our community that’s right around the corner and feels like home.”

Lunch Money is a gift shop and women’s clothing boutique that aims to promote the fun in everyday life and celebrate the little things. Apart from clothing and gifts, the store also sells tarot cards, home decor, barware, purses, stationary, planners, and handmade jewelry from local artists. It also offers free gift wrapping and it has a selfie wall for that perfect Instagram post.

“When I was in high school, my mom would give me $20 at the beginning of the week for lunch and expect that it would last me until Friday. It never did. I would take the money she gave me and go spend it at the mall. Shopping brought me so much more joy than eating lunch ever did,” said Dragoo. “So, that’s what Lunch Money is: it’s everything I would spend my lunch money on. And I hope that the women of Chandler get as much enjoyment out of my store as I do.”

For more information or questions about the shop or its grand opening, email Erin Dragoo at erinmdragoo@gmail.com or visit the Lunch Money website at www.lunchmoneyaz.com.